Abstract
This chapter explores complex relationships between NGOs and civic activism campaigns and between civil society and political society actors (the government and political parties). Our data show that NGOs do more than is initially perceived; they sometimes choose to remain inconspicuous, and their presence may go unnoticed, but they contribute substantially to activism campaigns, enhancing the complexity of the civil society ecosystem. There is also an imbalance of good faith; NGOs are very positive in their attitudes towards activists, while activists are rather sceptical of NGOs. Complex relationships between civil and political society actors can be conceptualised in terms of Tocqueville-Gramsci debate regarding the role of politics in civil society. Our protagonists have to make difficult decisions regarding their relationships with political actors such as the government and the political opposition. What do the NGOs gain (or lose) from cooperating with the government? Should activists accept the support of political parties? The NGO leaders and activists often cast their activities as apolitical. However, can they avoid politics if they want to enact change?
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Notes
- 1.
In the case of Electric Yerevan, there was no cooperation between activists and the NGOs, but the NGOs did nonetheless play a small role as information providers that helped shape the grievances of the protesters. This finding fits well with the theoretical discussion of various roles of NGOs in democracy, including the role of information providers.
- 2.
Reference made to the Electric Yerevan initiative.
- 3.
Sometimes also called radical, neo-Marxist or post-Marxist.
- 4.
Heritage (Zharangutyun), Prosperous Armenia (BHK), Armenian National Congress (Azgayin Kongres) and Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun).
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Paturyan, Y., Gevorgyan, V. (2021). Growing Complexity of the Civil Society Ecosystem. In: Armenian Civil Society. Societies and Political Orders in Transition. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63226-7_9
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